Heel-compressing machine.



E. ERIGKSON.

HEEL GOMPRESSING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLBD JULY 23, 1907.

Patented July 21, 1914.

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E. ERIGKSON.

HEEL OOMPRBSSING MAGHINE'.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY "23 1907.

Patented July 21, 1914.

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Patented July 21, 1914 a snnrrg-s1mm a. :73 :55 9 72 THE NOlRls PETERSqo., WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES, rn'rsnronn cn.

EDWARD ERICKSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BOYLSTONMANUFACTURING COMPANY, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

HEEL-COMPRESSING MACHINE. 7

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 21, 1914.

Application filed July 23, 1907. Serial No. 385,146.

To all whom it may concern v Be it known that I, EDWARD ERICKSON, ofBoston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Heel- CompressingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to heel-compressing machines, and its objects aremanifold.

The principal object of the invention is to compress all parts of a heelsimultaneously and this is accomplished by providing complemental treadand heel seat dies, complemental side or edge dies, and a breast die,all of which are so constructed and arranged as to be actuated by amovement of a reciprocatory head. Of these elements especial importanceis given to the side and breast dies which utilize the power of themachine most advantageously in compressing the heel from front to rear.

Another novel feature is the utilization of a pair of compressingmembers as a heel carrier which not only places a heel in compressingposition but which subsequently takes the place of an ejector, byremoving the heel to a discharge openingthrough which it may gravitateto a suitable receptacle. Other novel features in the construction andoperation of the invention are hereinafter described and claimed, andillustrated on the accompanying drawings forming a partof thisspecification of which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a compressing machine constructed inaccordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a right side elevation thereof.Fig. 3 is a plan view in section of the power-transmitting mechanism.Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are details of the clutch-controlling mechanism. Fig. 7is a vertical section on a larger scale of the compressing mechanism innormal or receiving position. Fig. 8 is a similar view of the samemechanism in compressing position. Figs. 9 and 10 are plan views, partlyin section, of the same mechanism as it appears respectively in Figs. 7and 8. Fig. 11 is a front elevation partly in section of the mechanismas it appears in Figs. 8 and 10.-

Before proceeding to the description of the machine it should beunderstood that the names and terms employed therein are not intended tolimit the invention, but are solely for the purpose of designating theseveral elements and their functions.

The same reference characters indicate The said support and vcrossheadare provided, as usual, with a pair of cooperative compressing members,hereinafter described, between which a'heel is to be compressed. Thesupport or bed, as it will be hereinafter termed, is supported by andbetween the upstanding sides 12, 12, which are formed on the bases 14,14, of the frame. The crosshead 20, as illustrated, is above the bed 10,though the order might be reversed, and its ends, which have guidingflanges 15, 15, extend through slots in the sides 12, 12 in which theends have sliding bearing. Cylindrical projections 16, 16 formed on theends of the head 20 are connected respectively by links 17, 17 to acrank shaft 18 suitably journaled in hearings in the base portions 14,14 of the frame. The head 20 is moved toward and from the bed 10 by r0-tating the shaft 18, and in order to properly rotate the shaft themachine is provided with a convenient form of power-transmittingmechanism hereinafter described.

As previously stated the bed 10 and head:

20 are provided with cooperative compressmg members. These members maybe individually termed a tread die 19 and heel seat die 21, inasmuch asthe former enga es and flattens the tread of a heel, and the" latterengages and forms that surface of The tread die 19 is in realnotabsolutely necessary, it-is preferable to have the die 19 stationary'andthe die 21 movable, and they are therefore mounted movable toward andfrom the support.

respectively on the bed and head as clearly shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 11.The member 19 is immovaloly installed in a depression in the bed so thatits work-engaging surface lies flush with that of the bed. The member21, however, is adjustably mounted byreason of being afiixed to a dieseat 22" having flanges 23 by which it is clamped to the head. Prior toclamping the die seat 22 in place, it may be provided with a heel seatdie of any desired size or shape having dowel holes. to receive thedowel pins 24:, and a screw thread hole by which it may be drawn up tothe seat with a screw 25 set into the seat. The whole may then beslipped into a depression in the head, and clamped in the correctposition by the screws 20 and clamping strips 23 which overlap theflanges 23. In Figs. 1, 7, 8 and 10 it will be seen that there is a nose26 which is a compressing member in itself for it is adapted to engagethe breast of a heel 100. The nose 26, hereinafter termed a breast die,is of greater depth than a heel, and so the tread die 19 is providedwith an aperture 27 to receive the breast die so that the heel seat diemay approach as closely as necessary to the tread die. The heel seat dieis of convex form so as to shape a heel in conformity with the heel seatof a shoe, and it will be seen in Figs. 7 and 8 that the median line ofthe work-engaging face thereof is inclined relatively to the head. Thesliding bearing which the head has in the sides 12 of the frame, guidesthe head so that it moves perpendicularly toward and from the bed 10,and so the median line of the heel seat die and also the surface of thetread die 19, is inclined relatively to the direction in which the diemoves. The

work-engaging surface of the breast die and the back face 4L6 thereofare also inclined to their direction of movement, all of which ishereinafter explained.

The combined heel-carrying and compressing mechanism, h ereinbeforementioned, comprises primarily a pair of compressible dies 30, 30adapted to engage the side and rear edges of a heel. These dies aremovable in unison to and from the point of compression between the treaddie 19 and heel seat die 21, and are also movable toward and. from eachother so as to be adapted to compress the sides and rear of the heel.Vhile their principal function is that of compressing, they areinstrumental, by reason of their unitary movement toward and from thepoint of compression, in acting as a carrier for carrying a heel to andfrom the said point. In order to utilize the dies 30, 30 as a heelcarrier they are preferably mounted on a carriage 31 which is mounted soas to move back and forth in guides 32 on a receiving table 33. Aconvenient method of mounting the dies 30, 30 so that they shall becompressible is to pivot them on the car riage. In the form hereinillustrated, they are provided with ears 34: which fit snugly in arecess in the carriage and which are pivoted on astud 35 common to both.See Figs. 7 and 8. Each member 30 constitutes a half-die, and bothtogether form an orifice which in plan view conforms to the plan of theshape to which the heel is to be compressed. The method by which the beinserted between the point of compression.

members 30 are mounted makes it a simple matter to substitute othersdesigned to give to a heel a different shape or size. A spring 36occupying pockets 37, 37 formed in the inner faces of the members 30near the pivot 35, serves to normally separate the members on a linecorresponding to the median line of a heel (see Fig. 9). By reason of somounting the die members they are adapted to receive a heel blank fromabove, and by reason of separating them and enlarging the passagebetween them a heel is free to gravitate therethrough unless supportedby other means. For the purpose of supporting a heel in the dies, thecarriage is provided with a plate 38, and means adapted to cause theplate to alternately cover and uncover the passage through the dies. Aconvenient method of accomplishing this end is to utilize the movementof the carriage toward and from the point of compression. The plate 38lies between the carriage and the table 33 and is adapted to havesliding contact with each. The plate is frictionally connected to thecarriage by a stud 39 extending through a slot 1O formed in the plateparallel to the direction of travel of the carriage. The stud has a head4L1 overlapping the sides of the slot 10, and drawn toward the plate bya spring 42 compressed between the carriage and a nut and washer 1-3 onthe other end of the stud. By this means the plate is frictionallyclamped with yielding tension against the carriage, so that it isadapted to either move with it or permit movement of the carriagerelatively thereto within the limits of the slot. A friction washer mayor may not head 11 and the plate 38.

The operation of the carrying and compressing mechanism is as follows.\Vhen the machine is in a state of rest, the said mechanism is asillustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 7 and. 9. Referring now to Figs. 7 and 9, itwill be seen that the head 20 bearing the heel seat die 21 and breastdie 26, is relatively distant from the tread die 19, and that thecompressible members 30, 30 of the heel carrier are in receivingposition, also relatively distant from the tread die and The dies 30, 30are here separated by the spring 36 so that their rear shoulders abutagainst the carriage as shown in Fig. 9. A heel 100, placed tread firstinto the passage between the dies 30, 30 in this position, is supportedtherein by the plate 38 which now underlies the passage. Thepower-transmitting mechanism, hereinafter described, is then broughtinto operation so as to advance the heel carrier toward the point ofcompression, and to actuate the several compressing members. As thecarriage 31 and die members 30, 30 advance, the plate 38, by reason ofits fric tional connection with the carriage also advances, stillsupporting. the heel in the dies.

On their way to the point of compression,

latter to push the heel from the now stationary plate 38 to the inclinedwork-engaging face of the tread die 19, the stud .39 meanwhile advancingin the slot 40 of the. plate. Having arrived at the point of compression the heel is tilted by the tread die so that the median line ofthe former is inclined to the movable work-engaging dies and to theirdirections of movement. By reference to Figs. 8 and 10 it will be seenthat the plate 38 is now retracted relatively to the opening in the dies30,30.

After the last named dies arrive at the.

point of compression the slowly approaching heel seat die 21 and breastdie 26 enter between the former dies, and engage respectively the top 6and breast c of the heel.

I By reason of the inclination of the workengaging face ofthe breastdie, it crowds the heel toward the rear of the dies 30,30, thereby.compressing the breast 0 and rear 4% oftheheel. The rear face 46 of thebreast die is also inclined to its direction of movement but oppositelyto the work-engaging face thereof. This face 46 is adapted to engagetheinner faces ofprojecting portions 45, 45 formed on the, dies 30, 30 andso to slightly wedge the side dies forward and restrain the dies againsttendency to retro-i grade movement, due to the pressure exerted on theheel by the breast die.

Simultaneously with the cooperation of the compression members 19, 21and 26, the dies 30, 30 are closed by suitable means so 'aEIS to shapethe side edges and rear portion of the heel. The means for accomplishingthis may be of any preferred form, that illustrated'having a pair ofsliding pressure blOCKS 51, 51mounted on the bed lO and connected to thehead 20 so as to be actuated (Fig. 11) and are connected by pivotingstuds 53 to ltoggleulinks 54, 54 which in turn are pivotallyconnected bystudsv 55, 55 to brackets 56, 56 formed on thehead. By reason of thisconnection the head, as it approaches and leaves the bed, causes. theblocks to alternately approach and ,recede relatively to each other. Asshown in Fig. 11 the heel seat die 21 is of just such size as to. beadmitted between the side dies 30, 30 when the latter are closed. Inpractice thesev three members are. preferably combined in sets varyingcollectively in size and style, and are attached or detached as a whole.l/Vhen the head 20 again recedes from the bed the carriage 31, togetherwith the dies 30, 30 and plate 38, is retracted to. its former receivingposition shown in Fig. 7. The plate 38 being retracted relatively to thepassage between the, dies 30, 30 again moves in unison therewith and thelatter, being now released and separated, retracts the compressed heelby means of the projecting portions 45, 45 of the dies. Continuedmovement of the carriage causes the plate to uncover the dischargeopening 44 in the table 33, and causes the portions 45, 45 to move theheel to the said opening through which it is now free to gravitate. SeeFig. -7. It is immaterial what becomes of the heel but it may bepresumed that it drops into a receptacle (not shown) below the table.Before the carriage reaches its former receiving position the plate 38engages another stop which arrests its movement and returns it to itsformer position relatively to the carriage and dies 30, 30.;

This stop is shown as consisting of a pair, of

screws 48 set into thefront edge of the table 33. See Fig. 10.

The description has so farcovered a complete cycle of movements ofthe'compressing and carrying mechanisms, and while the mechanism foractuating the former forms no part of the invention, a brief descriptionwill make it somewhat clearer. The crank shaft 18 which effects thereciprocation of; the head 20, also effects that of the carriage 31. Forthis purpose the shaft is provided with a path cam 60 whose path isoccupied by a roll 61 mounted on a lever 62. One end of the lever ispivoted on a fixed shaft 63 mounted in the two base portions 14, 14, andthe other end, which is connectedto the carriage 31, has two forkedextensions 64, 64 each formed with a radial slot 65. The carriage 31 hastwo bosses. or arms 66,- 66 which extend through slots 67', 67 formed inthe table, and which are connected by a rod or shaft'68' which passesthrough the slots in the'extensions 64, 64. Thezlever 62 is oscillatedby the cam 60 so as to reciprocate the. carriage in correct relation tothe reciprocation of the head 20.

Rotation of the shaft is effected by a, gear 70 affixed to. the'cam 60and driven by, a pinion 71 afiixedvupon a countershaft 72.

&

See Fig. 3. bearings 73 in the bases 14;, 1 1 and is provided with agear 74 which is driven by a pinion 7 5 affixed upon the primary powershaft. 76 also journaled in bases 14, let by bearings 77, 77 The shaft76 is provided with a continuously rotating loose pulley 7 8 having anannular internally tapered friction ring 79, and with a tight conicalclutch member 80 adapted to have frictional driving engagement with saidring. The shaft 76 is also provided with a tight momentum wheel 81, anda controller 82 adapted to be manually actuated so as to force the loosepulley with its ring 79 into engagement with the tight member 80. Figs.3, at and 6 illustrate a cylindrical. cam member 83 which surrounds theshaft 76 and which is pinned or otherwise secured to a fixed supportsuch as the bearing 77. The member 88 has inclined end faces 84 whichare adapted to cooperate with correspondingly inclined faces 85 formedon one end of the controller 82. The controller also has a segment ofgear teeth 86 which intermesh with a gear segment 87 affixed to one endof a rock shaft 88 journa'led in bearings in the bases 14, 14:. The armof the segment is pivotally connected to one :end of a link 89 whoseother end is pivotally connected to a hand lever 90 pivotally mounted onone end of the shaft 63 and held thereon by a collar 91. The lever 90isadapted to be manually actuated so as to cause the segment to oscillatethe controller 82. When the controller is oscillated in one direction itis caused, by its engagement with the inclined faces 84 0f the member83, to more endwise on the shaft 76, and to engage the hub of the loosepulley 78 and force the ring 79 of the latter into driving relation withthe cone member 80. In order to hold the parts in this relation, thehand lever is provided with a spring-pressed latch 92 which engages atoothed sector 93 secured to the frame 12. The rock shaft 88 may beprovided with an arm 94 and a spring 95 connected thereto so as to exerton the rock shaft a tendency to return the controlling means toinoperative position. The rock shaft may also be provided with an arm 96carrying a stud 97 and brake shoe 98 thereon adapted to engage theperiphery of the momentum wheel 81 when the controlling means is ininoperative position.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the journals of the crank shaft 18, are shown ashaving removable lower caps 99 formed with screw-threaded shanks 101.The latter are provided with -nuts 102 which have suitable seats in thebase portions 14, ltand which are adapted to lock the caps against theirjournal boxes in the frame.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described away of constructing and using the same, although with-,

The shaft 72 is journaled in' out attempting to set forth all of theforms in which it may be made, or all of the modes of its use, I declarethat what I claim is 1. A heel-compressing machine c0mprising astationary die, and a plurality of movable dies, all of which havework-engaging faces inclined to the directions of movement of themovable dies.

2. A heel-compressing machine comprising movable side dies, a movableheel seatdie, a movable breast die, and a tread support for the heelinclined to the direction of pressure of the dies.

3. A heel-compressing machine comprising a tread support for a heel, aheel seat die and breast die movable toward and from the heel support ina line inclined to the tread-engaging face thereof, and side diesadapted to compress between them an inclined heel.

41. A heel-compressing machine comprising a heel seat die movable in agiven path, and having a work-engaging face whose median line isinclined to the path of movement, a cooperative die having a plane faceparallel to said median line and adapted to engage the tread of theheel, cooperative side dies adapted to surround the sides of a heel, anda breast die movable with the top die and adapted to enter between theside dies and the heel breast, said breast die and side dies havingcooperative faces inclined to the direction of movement of the former.

5. A heel-compressing machine comprising a relatively stationaryelement, a relatively movable element movable toward and from thestationary element, cooperative dies mounted respectively on thestationary and movable elements, and transversely movable cooperativedies mounted on the stationary element, all of said dies havingwork-engaging faces adapted to inclose and compress a heel with itsmedian line inclined to the directions of movement.

6. A heel-compressing machine comprising a stationary supporting die, aheel seat die movable toward and from the supporting die in a directioninclined to the supporting face thereof, and having a workengaging facecorrespondingly inclined to the direction of movement, cooperative sidedies adapted to compress a heel with its tread lying against thesupporting die, a breast die fixed relatively to and movable with theheel seat die and having abreastengaging face inclined to the directionof movement thereof, and means adapted to be engaged by the back of thebreast die and to hold the die against the work.

7. In a heel-compressing machine, a vertically movable compressing die,a slidable carriage movable toward and away from the compressingposition of said vertically movable die, laterally movable compressingdies mounted on said slidable heel carriage and independently movablethereon, and a heel support slidingly supported by said carriage.

8. A heel-compressing machine comprisinga stationary support, areciprocatory head movable toward and from the support, a pair ofcompressing members mounted re spectively on the support and head, acarriage movable transversely toward and from the stationarily mountedcompressing member, a pair of compressible dies mounted on the carriageso as to cooperate therewith in carrying a heel blank to a positionbetween the said compressing members, an automatic slide movable in partwith said second-mentioned members, and means on the stationary supportconnected to and operable by the head for compressing the compressibledies as the head approaches the stationary support. 1

9. A heel-compressing machine comprising a pair of compressing membersof which one is movable toward and from the other, and a heel carriermovable toward and from the point of compression, said carriercomprising a carriage, a pair of compressible dies mounted thereon andconstructed so as to form a passage through which a heel may gravitate,and arranged so as to enter between the compressing members, and a heelsupport frictionally connected to the carriage, and constructed andarranged so as to cover or uncover the said passage to either support'orrelease a heel between the dies.

10. A heel compressing machine comprising a pair of side dies forcompressing the sides and back of a heel, dies for engagingoppositefaces and the breast of a heel contained in said side dies, means forclosing said side dies, and means for closing the other dies to compresssaid opposite faces and breast while the side dies are compressing, saidbreast die being adapted to act on said side dies to compress the heelfrom front to rear.

11. A heel compressing machine comprising a tread die and a cooperativeheel seat die, means for closing said dies, cooperative side diesarranged to compress laterally a heel engaged by said tread andheel-seat dies, abreast die fixed as to the heel seat die and arrangedto engage the breast of a heel while the same is engaged by said treaddie, heelseat die, and side dies, and cooperativemeans on said breastdie and side dies for efiecting compressing movement of the side dies.

side dies at said remote position, said slide being movable with saidside dies toward said bottom die, means for causing said slide to movewith said side dies toward and from said bottom die, said meanspermitting relative movement of said side dies and slide, and stops forarresting movement of said slide.

14. A heel compressing machine comprising top and bottom dies, onemovable toward and from the other, means for closadapted to compress aheel blank laterally While the heel is engaged by said top and bottomdies, said side dies being also movable laterally from compressingposition to a remote position, a slide for supporting a. heel in saidside dies, said slide and-side dies being movable together andrelatively movable, and means for causing concerted movement andrelative movement of said slide and side dies for effecting the deliveryof a heel blank to said bottom die, and the discharge of the blank fromsaid bottom die and side dies.

15. A heel compressing machine comprising top and bottom dies, onemovable toward and from the other, means for closing said dies,laterally movable side dies adapted to compress a heel blank laterallywhile the heel is engaged by said topand bottom dies, said side diesbeing also movable laterally from'compressing position to a remoteposition, a slide movable toward and from said bottom die and arrangedto engage the bottom of a heel in said side dies and support the heeltherein, and means for causing said slide to occupy heel supportingposition with relation to said side dies while said dies are movingtoward said bottom die, and to occupy non-supporting position while saiddies are moving away from said bottom die.

16. A heel compressing machine comprising top and bottom dies, onemovable toward and from the other, means for closing said dies, a heelsupport movable toward and from said bottom die transversely of closingmovement of said dies, a pair of hinged side dies arranged above saidheel support in the transverse plane of a heel resting upon saidsupport, said side dies being movable transversely to and from the lineof said top and bottom dies, and means mg said dies, laterally movableside dies for moving said support and side dies to deliver a heel tosaid bottom die, to remove the heel tromsaid bottom die, and todischarge the heel from said support and side dies.

17. A heel compressing machine comprising top and bottom dies, onemovable toward and from the other, means for closing said dies, aslidable heel support movable transversely toward and from said bottomdie, a pair of hinged side dies arranged to engage the sides of a heelresting on said support, said side dies being movable in parallelismwith said slide, and movable transversely of said slide but in aparallel plane, means for moving said side dies from a remote positionto compressing position between said top and bottom dies, means forclosing said side dies in compressing position, means for causing saidheel support to move with said side dies toward and from said bottomdie, and means for renderingosaid support alternately operative andinoperative at the end. of each parallel movement of said side dies.

18. A heel compressing machine comprising compressing dies in fixedalinement, one of said dies being movable toward and from the other, aslidable heel support movable toward and from the cooperative point ofsaid dies, and cooperative compressing members movable with relation tosaid slidable support and otherwise movable toward and from each other.

19. A heel compressing machine comprising a table having a dischargeopening, compressing members above the table, said members beingarranged and actuated to receige a heel blank from above, to compress itlaterally, to move it laterally in a line passing over said dischargeopening, and to release it, a slide between saidtable and compressingmembers, and means for causing said slide to cover and uncover saiddischarge opening, and to cover and uncover the opening between saidcompressing members.

20. A heel compressing machine comprising a pair of compressing membersof which one is movable toward and from the other, a pair of compressingmembers movable in unison to and from the first pair, and arranged andconstructed to receive between them a heel from above, to move with theheel to juxtaposition relative to the first pair, to operate therewithin compressing the heel, to move with the heel away from the first pair,and to release the heel so that it may drop therethrough, and a slidemovable with said second pair of members part way toward the first pairfor supporting a heel blank in said second pair.

21. A heel compressing machine comprising coacting compressing members,means for opening and closing said members in a substantially verticalline, a laterally movable member for carrying a heel blank part waytoward said compressing members, and means for transferring a heel blankfrom said carrying member to the lower member of said compressingmembers.

22. A heel compressing machine comprising a support for a heel. blank,said support being movable in a substantially horizontal plane, meansfor sliding a heel blank laterally from said support and for compressingit laterally, and coacting compressing members for otherwise compressingthe heel blank contained in said laterally compressing means.

23. A heel compressing machine comprising coactive compressing members,the machine being open near the point of compression to provide for thedischarge of the work, a supporting member movable laterally toward andfrom said compressing members in a line extending over said point ofdischarge for carrying a heel blank to ward said compressing members andover said point of discharge, coacting dies movable laterally forremoving a heel blank from said supporting member, for compressing it inconjunction with said compressing members, and for moving the compressedheel away from said compressing members to said point of discharge, andmeans for moving said supporting member away from said point ofdischarge to eiiect a gravity dis charge of the heel.

24. A heel compressing machine comprising a reciprocatory supportmovable in a substantially horizontal plane for carrying a heel blank,coacting compressing members arranged to open and close in asubstantially vertical line beyond the range of said support, coactingside dies movable in a plane parallel to that of said supportfortransferring a heel blank from said support to said compressing members,for compressing the blank laterally in conjunction with said compressingmembers, for moving the compressed heel away from said compressingmembers toward the point where it was removed from said support, and forreleasing said heel, and means for retracting said support from saidpoint to permit the heel to drop through said dies.

25. A heel compressing machine comprising cooperative dies for engagingand compressing the tread and heel seat of a heel blank, said diesexerting their pressure in a substantially vertical line, the tread andheel seat faces of said dies being inclined to the direction ofcompressing movement, said heel seat die being provided with a wedgeshaped breast die; and compressing dies movable laterally to and fromcompressing position in conjunction with said vertically acting dies,the work engaging portions of said laterally movable dies being inclinedto accord with said vertically acting dies, said breast die beingarranged to act within and in conjunction with said laterally movabledies.

26. A heel compressing machine comprising cooperative dies for engagingand compressing the tread and heel seat of a heel blank, abreast die,and cooperative side dies for compressing the blank laterally, said sidedies being movable transversely of their path of lateral compressingmovement for transferring the heel blank, said side dies and breast diehaving coactive sur faces whereby said breast die is adapted to movesaid side dies to compress the blank longitudinally.

27. A heel compressing machine comprising means movable toward and fromeach other for engaging the tread and heel seat of a heel blank tocompress the blank from top to bottom, cooperative members for engagingthe back of the blank, and a member for engaging the breast of theblank, said back-engaging members having portions movable toward andfrom each other for engaging the sides of the blank to compress theblank laterally, said back-engaging members being operable by saidbreastengaging member for compressing the blank from breast to back.

28. A heel compressing machine compris ing a tread die, a heel seat die,one of said dies being movable vertically toward and from the other, themachine being formed to permit the work to gravitate when discharged atone point, a slide movable laterally over said point toward and from theline of said tread and heel seat dies, means for arresting the approachof said slide at a remote point, coactive side dies for moving a heelblank from said slide to the line of said tread and heel seat dies, forcompressing the blank laterally in conjunction with said head and heelseat dies, for removing the compressed heel, and for releasing it atsaid point of discharge, and a breast die fixed with relation to saidvertically movable die, said breast die being arranged to coact withsaid siderdies, and having its breast surface inchned to its line ofmovement. 7 29. A heel compressing'machine comprls Q? means movabletoward and from each 5 .9 other for engaging the heel seat and tread ofa heel blank to compress the blank from top to bottom, cooperative meansfor engaging the breast and back of the blank to compress from front torear, and means operated by said breast-engaging means for moving saidback-engaging means toward said breast-engaging means.

30. A heel compressing machine comprising a tread-engaging die, aheel-seat engaging die, means for moving one of said dies in a verticalline to effect coaction of said dies, a plate movable toward and fromthe line of said dies, for carrying a heel blank, the range of movementof said plate being entirely outside the range of said dies, side otherand away from said other dies for discharging the heel, and means forretracting said plate to enable the heel to drop from the side dies.

31. A heel compressing machine comprising a pair of cooperativework-engaging and compressing members in fixed alinement of which one ismovable toward and from the other, and cooperative compressing membersmovable in unison into and out of alinement with the first pair ofmembers, the latter members being adapted toplace a heel blank upon andremove it from one of th members first mentioned. 7 i

32. In a heel compressing machine, cooperative work-engaging members,and

means for operating them in vertical alinement to compress a heelbetween them, a

laterally movable carriage for conveying a heel blank to the lower ofsaid compressing members, and two pivoted side dies on said carriage,and movable laterally from'a position away from said members into aposition registering with said members, said side dies engaging only thesides of the heel, and means for operating said side dies to compressthe heel laterally.

33. A heel compressing machine comprising a table having a dischargeopening, compressing members above the table, said members beingarranged and constructed to re ceive a heel blank from above, tocompress it, to move with it across the discharge opening, and torelease the heel so that it may drop therethrough and through theopening, and an automatically operated slide to open and close saiddischarge opening and the opening between the said compressing members.i

34. A heel compressing machine comprising a pair of work-engaging andcompressing members of which one is movable toward and from the other, apair of compressing members movable in unison to and from the firstpair, and arranged and constructed to receive between them a heel. fromabove, to move with the heel to juxtaposition relawith in compressingthe heel, to move with l the heel awayfrom the first pair, and torelease the heel so that it may drop therethrough, an automatic slidemovable with said second-mentioned members toward said first pair, andmeans for arresting the approach of said slide at a remote point.

35. A heel compressing machine comprising a pair of compressing membersof which one is movable toward and from the other, a carriage movabletoward and from the point of Compression, a pair of compressible diesmounted on the carriage and constructed so as to form a passage throughwhich a heel may gravitate, and arranged to move with a heel to thepoint of compression, a slide movable relative to said carriage forsupporting a heel between the dies during their approach to the pointsof compression, and means for arresting the approach of said support ata remote point.

36. A heel compressing machine oompris ing a pair of compressing membersof which one is movable toward and from the other, and a heel carriermovable toward and from the point of compression, said carriercomprising a pair of compressible dies constructed to form a passagethrough which a heel may gravitate, a support movable with respect tosaid carrier for supporting a heel between the dies during theirapproach to the point of compression, and means for rendering thesupport inoperative before the said carrier reaches a compressingposition.

37. A heel compressing machine comprising a pair of compressing members,the ma chine being open ata point where a heel may gravitate, a heelcarrier for moving a heel to and from said compressing members, andcomprising a carriage, means on the carriage constructed so as to form apassage through which a heel may gravitate, and arranged so as to passacross said point to and from the compressing members, a heel supportfrictionally connected to the carriage so as to move therewith orrelatively thereto between said means and said point, and stops forstopping the support independently of the carriage so as to cause thesupport to either cover or uncover the passage in said means.

38. A heel compressing machine comprising a pair of compressing members,the machine being open at a point where a heel may gravitate, and a heelcarrier movable over said point to and from said compressing members,said carrier comprising a carriage, a pair of compressible diespivotally mounted thereon and constructed so as to form a passageadapted to register with said point and through which a heel maygravitate, and a relatively movable heel support constructed andarranged to underlie the passage in said dies when the latter arerelatively distant from or approaching said compressing members, and tomove and re main away from under the passage when the dies are at andmoving from compressing position.

39. A heel compressing machine comprising means movable toward and fromeach other for engaging the heel seat and tread of a heel blank tocompress the blank from top to bottom, means for engaging the back ofthe blank, a member for engaging the breast of the blank, and meansadapted to be engaged and moved by said member for causing compressingmovement of said back-engaging means toward said member.

40. A heel compressing machine comprising means for compressing a heelblank from heel seat to tread, a breast die movable to ard the plane ofthe tread from the heel seat side of the blank, cooperative dies forengaging the sides and back of the heel blank, and means operable bysaid breast die for moving said back and side-engaging dies to compressthe heel blank longitudinally.

41. A heel compressing machine, comprising means for compressing a heelblank from heel seat to tread, a movable breast die for moving thebreast of the heel blank to compress the blank longitudinally,cooperative dies for engaging the sides and back of the heel blank, andmeans operable by said breast die for actuating said cooperative dies tocompress the heel blank longitudinally.

42. A heel compressing machine comprising cooperative compressingmembers for acting upon the tread and heel seat of a heel blank, andcooperative compressing members for acting upon the sides and back ofthe blank, one of the first-named members having a portion for actingupon the breast of the blank, the second-named members being operable bysaid portion for compressing the blank from breast to back.

43. A heel compressing machine comprising cooperative compressingmembers adapted to form a closed mold for a heel blank, said membersincluding relatively movable members for engaging the breast and backrespectively of the blank, one of said members being movable from top tobottom with reference to the heel blank, said breast-engaging andback-engaging members having coactive surfaces at an angle to theirrelative top to bottom movement whereby said back-engaging members aremoved to compress the blank from breast to back.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

EDWARD ERICKSON.

Witnesses M. B. MAY, P. W. Pnzzn'r'ri.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

